Nebraska Public Power District held two sessions of public hearings on Tuesday, Oct. 9, regarding a water discharge pipeline project for the District’s Sheldon Station, located near Hallam, Neb. One meeting was held at 2 p.m. at the Dvoracek Memorial Library in Wilber, Neb., and a second meeting was held at Hallam Hall in Hallam, Neb., beginning at 7 p.m. The project includes construction of a 10-mile pipeline from the Sheldon Station Plant to the Big Blue River.

The purpose of the public hearing was to receive final input from landowners whose property is affected by the pipeline installation, which is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2010. Landowners along the proposed route from the Sheldon Station Plant to Big Blue River were notified of the public hearing. NPPD project representatives were also available one hour before each of the sessions to respond to questions.

The hearing included an explanation for the project’s needs, engineering and route selection, and the land easement acquisition process. Formal public comment were taken both verbally and in writing.

In March 2006, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality issued NPPD a revised water discharge permit that included more stringent standards than previously required. NPPD must make modifications to Sheldon Station’s water treatment and discharge system to meet these new and more stringent permit requirements. The new system will provide better control and separation of water discharged from the facility. NPPD is meeting existing permit requirements at Sheldon Station, but in order to meet the new requirements, modifications are being made to the existing system.

On-site modifications involve modifying the plant’s drain piping systems and developing pond treatment facilities that will condition the water before discharging through a newly constructed pipeline from the Sheldon Station Plant to the Big Blue River.

The pipeline will be approximately ten miles long and will be constructed of 8 to12-inch diameter, polyethylene pipe. The underground pipeline will be set below frost level, approximately four to five feet below the surface. The pipeline will be routed adjacent to public roads and located on private property. Manholes will be installed at periodic locations and a discharge structure will be constructed at the Big Blue River.

In March, NPPD held a public meeting to gather input from landowners along the potential pipeline route corridor. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and express specific property issues to NPPD project representatives which helped to determine the proposed route.

Individuals with questions concerning the public hearing can contact Mark Becker, NPPD Corporate Communications, at 402-563-5667.